science
A team from the Innsbruck University Clinic for Internal Medicine II helped develop an innovative antibody for the treatment of chronic anemia in dialysis patients. This is to minimize the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
21.08.2020 09.51
Online since today, 9:51 a.m.
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Chronic anemia (ACD) is a common accompanying problem in dialysis patients. In dialysis patients, in addition to the functional iron deficiency due to the damaged kidney, there is often a low production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), the most important hormone for blood formation. In the therapy against anemia, the administration of EPO is an important cornerstone.
New antibody effective in anemia
Even when the EPO is administered to dialysis patients at the maximum dose, the formation of the oxygen transport protein hemoglobin is often restricted. The reason for this is the development of resistance to EPO in dialysis patients. In addition, erythropoietin is associated with the risk of stroke and heart attack.
In cooperation with the pharmaceutical company Kymab, the Innsbruck team led by Igor Theurl from the University Clinic for Internal Medicine II has now tested the new human monoclonal antibody KY1070. The effectiveness of this antibody could be demonstrated with an animal model in Innsbruck.
Monotherapy or in combination with EPO
“In animals that did not respond adequately to EPO, it was possible to achieve a sufficient increase in hemoglobin by combining them with the antibody,” explained first author of the study Verena Petzer from the University Clinic for Internal Medicine V.
In addition, thanks to the antibodies, a lower EPO dose was sufficient to combat anemia, which, in view of the side effects of EPO, is an important basis for use in dialysis patients, according to the doctor. The therapeutic potential of the new antibody can be used both as monotherapy and in combination with EPO. The study was published in the journal “BLOOD”.
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